A transmission fluid service replaces old, oxidized fluid with the exact specification your transmission requires, and on most vehicles includes a new filter and pan gasket. AutoTech Clinic does this at our Dearborn shop and inspects the pan for debris while it is off, which is one of the most useful health checks a transmission can get.
Transmission fluid is not just a lubricant. It carries the hydraulic pressure that applies the clutches, and when it breaks down the shifts get harsh and the clutch packs start to wear.
- How Long
- About 1 to 2 hours.
- Same Day
- Usually finished the same day.
- Vehicles
- Foreign and domestic, cars through trucks.
Signs You Need Transmission Fluid Service
- The fluid is dark brown rather than bright red, or smells burnt
- Shifts have become harsher or lazier over time
- You have passed the interval in the owner manual
- The vehicle tows, plows or sits in heavy stop and go traffic
- A shudder at steady highway speed
- The transmission temperature reads higher than it used to
What We Do
- 01
Check Level and Condition
We check the fluid at the correct temperature, because many transmissions can only be measured accurately within a specific range.
- 02
Use the Exact Specification
Transmission fluids are not interchangeable. The wrong fluid can cause shudder and damage within a few thousand miles, so we use the fluid the manufacturer specifies.
- 03
Drop the Pan and Inspect
We look at the magnet and the pan for metal and clutch material. A clean pan is good news, and a pan full of debris changes the conversation.
- 04
Replace Filter and Gasket
Where the transmission has a serviceable filter we replace it, along with the pan gasket, rather than just exchanging fluid.
- 05
Refill, Level and Road Test
We fill to the correct level at the correct temperature and road test to confirm shift quality before the car goes back.
What About Lifetime Fluid?
Several manufacturers describe their transmission fluid as filled for life. In practice that means the life of the warranty, and it assumes moderate use. In Dearborn stop and go traffic, a car that tows, or a vehicle you intend to keep past 150,000 miles, that assumption does not hold up well.
We check the fluid condition and give you our honest read. If it is clean we will tell you to leave it alone.
The Old Worry About Servicing a High Mileage Transmission
There is a long standing belief that changing fluid in a neglected high mileage transmission causes it to fail. What actually happens is that a transmission already near the end of its life sometimes fails soon after any service, and the service gets the blame.
We inspect the pan first. If we find heavy debris we will tell you plainly that a fluid service is unlikely to help and explain the real options instead of taking your money for it.
What Affects the Cost
We quote your vehicle specifically after inspecting it, because these are the things that move the number up or down:
- How much fluid the transmission holds, which varies from about 5 to 18 quarts
- The fluid specification, since some are far more expensive than others
- Whether a filter and pan gasket are serviceable on your model
- Drain and fill versus a full exchange
- Continuously variable transmissions, which need their own specific fluid
Call (313) 277-7200 with your year, make and model and we will tell you what to expect before you come in.
Why AutoTech Clinic
AAA Approved
An inspected facility that has to meet AAA standards for equipment and training.
Photos First
You see what we found and approve the price before anything is taken apart.
Same-Day Service
Parts on hand for the vehicles we see most, so you are not waiting on a delivery.